If you have a library card for the Lake County libraries, You can take books out of the Umatilla…read morebranch. If you live far away, you can order them online and have them sent to a Lake County library near you. But we live fairly close, so I like to visit on occasion in person. It is a small library and reminds me of when I was a kid and had a goal to read every single book in the children's section of my local library. (I never made it. Once I read the Count of Monte Cristo, I moved over to the adult books). I don't know if it is a permanent feature, but they also have a long table with books you can buy. Oh, and because it is part of the Lake County library system, it is free.

Trains, lions and…read morebig chairs The first Umatilla library started back in 1917 in a spare part of a local department store. Nothing unusual about this, sticking the library in any available space was common practice back then. During the 30's the people of the town realized that the library needed a bit more space so they constructed a log cabin to serve as the library and town hall. This work pretty well, at least until fire burned it down in 1959. So a new building was constructed to again serve as the library, town hall and community center but by the early 80's the small, one room library just wasn't large enough. Fortunately a rather unconventional but very cool idea surfaced. An old railroad depot building, built back in 1915 was just sort of hanging around so it was donated to serve as the library. To make it even cooler a big orange caboose was added in 1986 to serve a for literacy classes and then another, more modern addition was added in 1991. The library was now almost 3,000 very cool square feet. The old depot part of the library is still very obvious from both the inside and out and of course it's impossible to miss a big orange caboose. The inside is filled with old train stuff that almost gives the library a museum feel and even the new part has some very unusual things like a huge lion and a cool old chair. This library is now a fully modern and functional place with all the books, DVDs, video games, computers, programs, classes and friendly librarians you would expect in a modern library. However one quick look around and the building never lets you forget that it was once something far different than a place for books.

I love, love, love the Mount Dora Library - also known as the WT Bland Library in Lake County…read more With ample parking walking distance to both a butterfly garden AND a walking trail, what's not to love? Even their library cards feature pictures of butterflies. Friendly staff are quick to help you find what you need. Classes are available for local residents. And self-checkouts are available, as well as access to public computers. I am a committed bibliophile and thrilled the Mount Dora Library is here to support my reading adventures.

This is one of the BEST libraries around. They offer a wide selection of books and will also get…read moreyou books from other Lake county libraries, if needed. The staff is extremely friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. Check their calendar for all activities they over (chair yoga, classes, story time etc.) Right next to the main building is a beautiful butterfly garden. I am so grateful to have this library in our community.

Small but friendly…read more The Astor Library is a small place, not a lot of room on the inside and certainly not much to look at from the outside. However it is one of the coziest, comfortable and friendliest library that I have been in. Not a lot of space but everything is arraigned with thought and purpose in mind. User friendly is an understatement for this library. The library doesn't have a lot of space for a large amount of books but it does have computers, wi-fi, a great used book section and a cool little spot for kids. Because of the great use of space and some considerable thought, this library functions as though it is much larger. Nothing is forced here and everything seems to be where it is suppose to be. As with all excellent libraries the best and most valuable assets here were the librarians. Amazingly friendly and pleasant, we talked with them about the history and present things in town and they managed to entertain and edify us without missing a beat on their library tasks. Other people would come and go and just kind of flowed into and out of the conversations. This is definitely not the type of place to tell you to be quiet. A little library that doesn't look like much on the outside but we were able to learn so much without even trying and had a great time every second we were here. We were sorry to leave and even more sorry that we didn't live closer. A wonderful place that does everything a library is suppose to do and also manages to do so much more.

The last few times I've bee in this branch of the library, the staff has been less than helpful…read more The information on their website is inaccurate regarding services and programs and the librarian was absolutely rude to my daughter and I when we went in to pick up a book we had on hold. It's too bad because some of the other library branches in the area go above and beyond.

A Covid19 update on August 1st. This branch was closed for a while but is now reopened with regular…read morehours. I don't remember if masks are required, but the employees have them, and you should too. They have been giving away fabric washable masks there, in fact, as available. They encourage distancing, of course, and the stacks are labeled one way, though the times I have been there lately it is not at all crowded. They have plexiglass shields where you check out. They did some reorganizing when it they were closed. The DVDs are on regular shelves rather than rotating racks - easier to browse. Plus the non-fiction shelves have signs on the ends not only giving the Dewey decimal numbers in that aisle, but some subjects, such as Sports, History, True Crimea, etc. It is all good. As a general note, it is part of henLake a County library system now, which is handy as I can order stuff online from other libraries now and pick them up here in Eustis.

Very easy on the…read moreeyes Lake Helen is a small town, it doesn't even have a traffic light. It does have lots of cool old buildings, some unusual stuff and some cool new things like an impressive library. The library was built about ten years ago but looks like it has been here for a long, long time. Just kind of blends in so well with the surrounding area and is ascetically so pleasant to look at. The cool design, architecture and porch has a very small town welcoming feel that is completely different from the usual recently built, functional, but ascetically boring libraries that are so typical in this part of Florida. This library looks like it would be quite at home in some small New England town or island. The inside of the library is comfy but certainly not roomy. It does manage to fit all the modern conveniences like computers, periodicals, DVDs and of course a nice collection of books. Definitely has a pragmatic side to it's wonderful aesthetics. Best of all it has a huge bulletin board that lists all the local events and programs. A great place to keep track of what's going on in this quirky little town. The librarians I met were patient, friendly and sweet, every though the library was crowded and they were probably wondering why the hell I was asking all these stupid questions. One of them took the time to tell me the story about how all the books were moved from the old library next door. They just formed a human chain and handed the books, one by one, to the new building. Something that would have been very cool to watch. The Lake Helen library is certainly not the largest or most useful library around. However it definitely one of the coolest and welcoming.

Its hard to review a library because they are provided using a template of sorts and it takes work…read moreto make each modern library distinctive. Lake Helen Library is distinctive. The exterior looks like a fresh renovation of an old house and inside there are modern lighting and window touches. The library operationally functions well. Books selections are a little light but take advantage of the county wide borrwing policies to flesh out any missing items. Digital options are many starting with Overdrive, Axis360 and Freading for books and a really nice addition via the Zinio app to read a large selection of digital magazines that normally have to be paid for. After inspection, this is a great library that packs a lot of punch in a small package. Wise use of space and providing media that people will actually use instead of accumulating junk helps this library thrive.

The local library is such an underrated resource. It's my happy place. This library has many…read moreactivities for the kids. The librarians are too sweet. I've been in school for years - currently working on JD. This library is clean and has a good noise level. I look forward to bringing my kids to this library when I have some. It's a wonderful place to study, and has a ton of material

A friendly little…read morelibrary The De Bary Library is a small library with a pleasant ambiance that makes someone feel comfortable as soon as they walk in the door. Not a whole lot of room, books or computers in here because of the lack of space but they make good use of what they have. A very inviting children's section that has a very nice display of stuff animals is over on one side as well as a display of an interesting Medieval scene. Not a whole lot of really homey or comfortable places to sit, the emphasize is on practicality rather than aesthetics. Some friendly and sweet librarians combined with the interesting decor makes this a very enjoyable library to visit.

The people that work the downstairs part of the library are nicest can be the ones that work…read moreupstairs are rude selfish do not listen to the rules they apply to everybody else and do not like a biracial couples or anybody with a backpack I'd avoid the place if you can

Books and art…read more The Deland Library is a sleek and modern looking library that is exceptional well organized but still remains aesthetical interesting and attractive. Most libraries in Central Florida tend to be relatively new but frequently just look like big boxes that happen to hold books and computers. The Deland Library was definitely designed to be more than just storage for a bunch of books. The library has a very nice exterior with palm trees all around and the inside is spacious and uses natural light very well. Some great old photos of Deland are scatter around as well as some interesting and eclectic sculptures. The library has a very impressive genealogy and local history room and some interesting programs for both adults and kids. The staff were very pleasant and friendly and one of them even gave us a tour of their wonderful library A very nicely designed branch library that manages to do the usually libraries tasks extremely well without forgetting that there is more to a great library than just a bunch of books.

Although it's a small downtown area, I love that the library is a nice size and kept in good…read morecondition. They have various activities that you can participate in and various services (yoga, book club, etc.), along with study rooms.

I don't go to this branch often, because it is not as close as a few other libraries, but I tend to…read moreto stop in when I am in town for something else. They have a strong selection of books and what seems like a friendly staff. There is usually plenty of parking in the lot across the street. So I usually get books from this branch online and have it sent to Tavares or Mt. Dora, but I wouldn't hesitate to go in and explore or recommend it to someone else.

I was a library kid. I spent most of my adolescence in the library…read more Checking out books for fun, using the computers when the internet was out at home. Studying for school. Research projects and papers. In my last few years of high school, I volunteered after school for scholarships. It's sad to see libraries don't seem to get there level of love they used to as a public service. Thank you for the childhood memories! I'm no longer in Orange County, but you'll always have a place in my heart!

I love this library! It has so many classes, books and activities available. Highly recommend…read morechecking out their offerings online. Their bookstore has a lot to look through and the price is right for most of the books. They do take donation but there are limits. Parking wise, it can be confusing. We pulled into a garage and they said that the garage for the library was next door. It was my bad for not paying attention to the sign because there is one but you have been warned! I'd like to come back and work remotely at some point.

Located at Rollins College. The library has 5 levels. The top floor is the quietest. There's a…read moresmall coffee shop on the main level. Parking is tricky for members of the public but there are two or three public parking lots. Please note, if you plan on visiting this library call security or campus safety and they can provide you with a parking pass. Not only is this one of the best libraries I have visited (referring to study space, staff friendliness) in the Orlando area, it is also extremely comfortable. There are tons of different, unique, and spacious chairs to use. There is a section on the 4th floor called "Tower Reading Area" this unique space is hidden and tucked away. There are huge bean bag chairs and pillows within this room. Basically the best lounge study area I've seen to date! Go Rollins! #ifyoureforcedtostudywithnodistractionsalldaythencomehere

Located at Rollins College. The library has 5 levels. The top floor is the quietest. There's a…read moresmall coffee shop on the main level. Open until midnight on Sunday. Open to the locals. Parking can be a bit of a challenge.